We all know the basics; meteorites are fragments of rock or metal that survive their passage through Earth’s atmosphere and land on its surface. They can originate from asteroids, comets, or even other planets, offering scientists a direct glimpse into the early solar system.
But why does that matter? Well, most meteorites are billions of years old, containing clues about the processes that shaped planets and moons and studying their composition helps us understand the origins of water, molecules, and the building blocks of life.
Beyond their scientific value, meteorites also hold cultural and historical significance, having inspired myths and been used by ancient peoples for tools and rituals. Today, they remain vital keys to unraveling our cosmic history and that’s why it’s important to remember it now and then.
1
Armanty (Xinjiang, China)
Discovered in 1898, this 25-ton iron meteorite was one of the largest known in China before the discovery of newer fragments.
2
Aletai (Xinjiang, China)
Discovered in the early 21st century in the Altay mountains, this group of iron meteorites includes pieces weighing over 28 tons, rivaling the world’s largest finds.
3
Mbozi (Tanzania)
Discovered in the 1930s by locals, this 16-ton iron meteorite sits partly buried on a hillside and is a national monument.
4
Bacubirito (Mexico)
Found in 1863 in Sinaloa. At 20–22 tons and 4.25 meters long, it’s the longest meteorite in the world.
5
Gancedo (Argentina)
Part of a large iron shower that fell 4,000–5,000 years ago. The Gancedo piece (30.8 tons) was unearthed in 2016, the largest fragment yet from this strewn field.
6
El Chaco (Argentina)
Another huge fragment (28.8 tons), found in the 1960s, now displayed in Chaco province.
7
Morito (Spain)
Found in 1980 in Badajoz province, weighing 7.2 tons. An iron meteorite classified as octahedrite.
8
Henbury (Australia)
Fell about 4,700 years ago, forming a crater field near Alice Springs. The largest recovered iron fragment weighs 10 tons.
9
Holsinger (USA)
Is the largest intact fragment of the Canyon Diablo meteorite, which created Meteor Crater.
10
Cape York, Ahnighito (Greenland)
Estimated to have fallen thousands of years ago; used by Inuit for tools. The Ahnighito fragment (31 tons) was brought to New York in 1894 and is on display at the American Museum of Natural History.
11
Hoba (Namibia)
Fell about 80,000 years ago and discovered in 1920 by a farmer plowing his field. At 60 tons, it is the largest intact meteorite ever found and has never been moved from its fall site.
12
Sikhote-Alin (Russia)
Fell dramatically in 1947, witnessed by locals as a fiery explosion over Siberia. While most fragments are smaller, the largest single piece weighs 1.7 tons; collectively, tons of material were recovered.
13
Tamentit (Algeria)
An iron meteorite weighing 14 tons, found in the Sahara in 1864, later moved to Paris and displayed at the Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle.
14
Willamette (USA)
Discovered in 1902, weighing 15.5 tons. Revered by the Clackamas people before discovery, it was later moved to the American Museum of Natural History.
15
Gibeon (Namibia)
Fell during prehistoric times, scattering fragments across a huge area. The largest piece weighs 13 tons, many others were used by local people for tools.
